Radek Procházka

From BR Bullpen

Procházka pitched for the Czech team at age 23 in the 2001 European Championship, allowing 2 runs (both unearned), 3 hits and a walk in 5 innings, striking out four. In the 2003 European Championship, he was 0-1 with a 3.68 ERA in four appearances. He was 4-1 with 4 saves and a 1.29 ERA in the 2003 Czech Extraliga, striking out 78 in 69 2/3 IP for Draci Brno. He led the league in strikeouts, tied for the save lead and was 4th in ERA.

In 2004, the Draci Brno right-hander went 6-1 with 2 saves and a 0.77 ERA. He tied for second in the Extraliga in wins, was third with 52 strikeouts (behind Leoš Kubát and Jan Řeháček and was 4th in ERA. The next year, he was 9-2 with a 1.62 ERA. He led the circuit in victories (tied), was 7th in ERA and failed to make the top 10 in strikeouts.

The Czech Republic played in its first Baseball World Cup that year. Radek was 0-2 in the 2005 Baseball World Cup, allowing 8 runs (2 earned) in 4 2/3 innings on 11 hits and 3 walks while striking out no one. He took losses against Taiwan and Team USA. Moving to MZL in the Extraliga for the 2006 regular season, Radek was 5-4 with a 2.04 ERA, tying for sixth in the league in wins.

In 2007, Procházka returned to Draci Brno. He went 7-2 with a save and a 1.71 ERA. He tied four others for the league lead in wins, was second in innings pitched (79) and 8th in ERA. In the 2007 European Championship, he was 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA, allowing 12 hits and 4 walks in 9 innings while whiffing six. In the 2007 European Cup, he was rocked for 21 hits and 10 runs in 9 innings against Telemarket Rimini and the Marlins Puerto Cruz.

Procházka had a 2.84 ERA for Draci Brno in two appearances in the 2008 European Cup. He shut down champion FC Barcelona for six innings but reliever Pavel Budský (a former minor leaguer in the US) blew the game. He also ran into trouble against the Templiers de Sénart, allowing an Ian Young single to open the 9th; the other former minor leaguer on the squad, Jakub Toufar relieved and blew the game as the French team rallied to tie it.

The submarine hurler was the top pitcher in the 2008 Extraliga. He was 8-2 with a 0.78 ERA and 435 opponent OPS. He led the league in ERA and opponent OPS and his 71 strikeouts were third, highest among a Czech native. In the 2009 European Cup, he allowed one run in four innings.